Chelsea – Reporters Nepal https://nepalireporter.com Impart Educate Propel Thu, 23 Nov 2017 08:33:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.6 https://nepalireporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cropped-RN_Logo-32x32.png Chelsea – Reporters Nepal https://nepalireporter.com 32 32 Barcelona, Chelsea advance to Champions League last 16 https://nepalireporter.com/2017/11/42952 https://nepalireporter.com/2017/11/42952#respond Thu, 23 Nov 2017 08:33:42 +0000 http://nepalireporter.com/?p=42952 Champions League 2017-18, Barcelona, ChelseaChelsea advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League with a game to spare after beating 10-man Qarabag 4-0 on Wednesday, securing manager Antonio Conte’s 50th victory in all competitions with the Blues.]]> Champions League 2017-18, Barcelona, Chelsea

TURIN, Nov 23: Chelsea advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League with a game to spare after beating 10-man Qarabag 4-0 on Wednesday, securing manager Antonio Conte’s 50th victory in all competitions with the Blues.

Barcelona needed only a point to reach the Round of 16 and the Spanish superpower got exactly that against Juventus. A 0-0 draw at last year’s runner-up was enough to ensure top spot in Group D.

Already through, Paris Saint-Germain conceded the first goal of its European campaign in the first minute – before then unleashing its unstoppable firepower to thrash Celtic 7-1 in Paris.

A goalless draw at Basel would have been enough for Manchester United to top Group A, but the Premier League club slipped to its first group stage loss, going down 1-0 to a goal conceded just a minute from time.

GROUP A

Manchester United was deservedly beaten 1-0 by a spirited Basel, leaving all the qualification places open with one game remaining. Basel defender Michael Lang struck in the 89th minute to earn a win for the Swiss champion.

Still, United leads the standings with 12 points, three clear of both Basel and CSKA Moscow, which earlier won 2-0 at home to last-place Benfica.

In the final round on Dec. 5, Basel plays at last-place Benfica, and United hosts CSKA.

Georgy Shchennikov gave CSKA an early lead, despite an apparent offside. Then an own goal from Jardel ensured that Benfica — which is eliminated — suffered its fifth defeat in five Champions League games.

GROUP B

Neymar scored twice and set up another goal as Paris Saint-Germain produced its biggest Champions League win to extend its perfect record in the group stage this season.

PSG leads Group B with 15 points, three more than Bayern Munich, which won 2-1 at Anderlecht. Both PSG and Bayern are guaranteed a spot in the knockout phase and will battle for group supremacy on Dec. 5.

Celtic forward Moussa Dembele surprised the hosts with his first minute goal, but PSG responded with four goals in the first half – two from Neymar, one from Edinson Cavani and the other from Kylian Mbappe.

The one-way traffic continued after the break with Cavani scoring again to take his career total with PSG to 151, while Marco Verratti and Dani Alves also found the net.

GROUP C

Following a humbling 3-0 loss in Rome, Willian led Chelsea’s efforts to get its European campaign back on track, scoring a goal in each half and winning a penalty.

Eden Hazard made it 1-0 from the penalty spot in the 21st minute, calmly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Home team captain Rashad F. Sadygov had received a straight red card for tugging back Willian just inside the area as the Chelsea forward ran onto Eden Hazard’s pass.

Hazard then fed Willian with a back-heel pass to make it 2-0 in the 37th.

Qarabag, the first club from Azerbaijan to reach the group stage of the Champions League, had no better luck in the second half. Cesc Fabregas scored from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute and Willian added his second goal, a drive from 20 meters, five minutes from time.

Antoine Griezmann found the net with a stunning overhead kick as Atletico Madrid defeated Roma 2-0 to keep alive its hopes of advancing.

Substitute Kevin Gameiro scored the second to seal Atletico’s first Champions League victory this season.

Atletico has six points, two less than Roma, with one match to play.

GROUP D

Juventus will have to wait until the final round to try and qualify for the knockout stages. The Italian side remained second in the group but is only a point above Sporting Lisbon, which beat Olympiakos 3-1.

The Italian side — which reached the final in two of the last three seasons — next visits Olympiakos, while Sporting travels to Barcelona.

Barcelona, which rested Lionel Messi until the 56th minute, went closest to breaking the deadlock when Ivan Rakitic hit the post with a free kick.

In Portugal, Bas Dost scored a goal in each half for Sporting Lisbon. Bruno Cesar added the third while Vadis Odjidja scored the consolation goal for Olympiakos. AP

]]>
https://nepalireporter.com/2017/11/42952/feed 0
PSG, Bayern reach last 16 as Man Utd edges closer https://nepalireporter.com/2017/11/42035 https://nepalireporter.com/2017/11/42035#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2017 06:16:08 +0000 http://nepalireporter.com/?p=42035 Champions League 2017/18, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, ChelseaLayvin Kurzawa scored an unlikely hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain powered into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 5-0 rout of Anderlecht, while Bayern Munich joined them in the knockout stage.]]> Champions League 2017/18, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chelsea

PARIS, Nov 1: Layvin Kurzawa scored an unlikely hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain powered into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 5-0 rout of Anderlecht, while Bayern Munich joined them in the knockout stage.

Marco Verratti curled in a terrific opening goal — his first in Europe since September 2014 — on the half-hour at the Parc des Princes, with Brazilian superstar Neymar firing in a second before the break.

The world’s most expensive player was involved in PSG’s third goal as well, as his free-kick was tipped onto the post with France international Kurzawa forcing in the rebound.

The left-back then headed in another from a Dani Alves cross and completed an improbable treble with an angled drive as PSG increased their goals haul to 17 — with none conceded — in four Group B matches.

“The hat-trick is thanks to my teammates. I am delighted and the goals will give me confidence,” Kurzawa told beIN Sports.

The French giants top their section with a maximum 12 points, with Bundesliga leaders Bayern progressing alongside them following a 2-1 victory away to Celtic.

Kingsley Coman pounced on hesitant Celtic defending to latch onto a long clearance upfield from goalkeeper Sven Ulreich and round Craig Gordon to slot into an empty net on 22 minutes.

Callum McGregor slotted in a second-half equaliser, but Javi Martinez’s brave towering header — which left the Spaniard bloodied — clinched qualification for the Germans in Glasgow.

“I knew that today would be a very difficult, intensive game. We’ve had a busy schedule recently,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.

“It’s important that we have qualified, but it’s going to be difficult to finish top of the group because of our head- to-head record.”

Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United were made to wait to seal their passage into the next round despite a 2-0 win over Benfica.

Benfica’s Mile Svilar, who became the youngest goalkeeper in Champions League history a fortnight ago, suffered more misfortune at Old Trafford as his own goal handed United a 45th-minute lead.

The 18-year-old, at fault for the 1-0 defeat in Lisbon, atoned for that error by saving an Anthony Martial penalty, but Svilar was helpless when Nemanja Matic’s low drive cannoned off the post before hitting him on the arm and squirming over the line.

Daley Blind wrapped up victory from the penalty spot on 78 minutes after a foul on Marcus Rashford.

“We must get that point from the two remaining matches,” United manager Mourinho told BT Sport. “I am more than happy.”

CHELSEA THUMPED, ATLETICO TOILS

CSKA Moscow reignited their campaign with a 2-1 victory at Basel in the other Group B fixture. Luca Zuffi’s brilliant lob put Basel in front, but CSKA levelled through Alan Dzagoev in the second half before Pontus Wernbloom steered in the winner to leave the Russians level on six points with their Swiss hosts.

Lionel Messi and Barcelona were frustrated in a goalless stalemate with Olympiakos in Greece, while Juventus salvaged a 1-1 draw at Sporting Lisbon after Gonzalo Higuain levelled late on following Bruno Cesar’s opener.

Barcelona remain top of Group D with 10 points, three ahead of last year’s runners-up Juve, with Sporting on four.

Chelsea squandered a chance to secure a berth in the knockout stages as Stephan El Shaarawy inspired Roma to a 3-0 success over the Premier League champions in Italy.

El Shaarawy drilled Roma ahead after just 40 seconds at the Stadio Olimpico as he ran onto an Edin Dzeko knockdown to slam home from the edge of the area.

The Italy striker netted a second on 36 minutes with Diego Perotti rifling in a third from 25 yards as Roma replaced Chelsea at the top of Group C with two matches remaining.

Roma are on eight points, one above Chelsea, but Atletico Madrid — finalists twice in the past four seasons — are heading for elimination following a 1-1 draw at home to Qarabag.

Journeyman Spaniard Michel headed the Azerbaijani champions in front from a corner, and while Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey hammered in an equaliser, Diego Simeone’s side must now beat both Chelsea and Roma and hope other results work in their favor. AFP

]]>
https://nepalireporter.com/2017/11/42035/feed 0
Champions League kicks off with night of one-sided games https://nepalireporter.com/2017/09/40425 https://nepalireporter.com/2017/09/40425#respond Wed, 13 Sep 2017 06:57:50 +0000 http://nepalireporter.com/?p=40425 ChampionsAs the Champions League opened with a series of one-sided games, Jose Mourinho was blunt. For the Manchester United manager, it wasn’t the Champions League at all.]]> Champions

Sept 13: As the Champions League opened with a series of one-sided games, Jose Mourinho was blunt. For the Manchester United manager, it wasn’t the Champions League at all.

“For the Real Madrids, Barcelonas and Bayerns, the Champions League starts in February. Now is just the warming up,” Mourinho said after a routine win for his Manchester United team over Swiss club Basel. “Let’s qualify, let’s make the points to qualify for the knockout phase. When we do that, let’s enjoy playing against the big guys.”

United, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all cruised to easy wins on Tuesday, scoring 17 goals between them and conceding none.

Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Juventus was something of an exception, if only because the Italian team — last season’s defeated finalist — had been expected to put up more of a fight.

In the event, Lionel Messi started another European campaign in imperious fashion with two goals against an injury-depleted Juventus side.

 

GROUP A

Manchester United’s players didn’t have to exert themselves too much to see off Swiss side Basel 3-0, as Romelu Lukaku scored his sixth goal in six United appearances.

Marouane Fellaini and Marcus Rashford’s goals completed the win for United.

In a worrying sight for United fans and coach Mourinho, captain Paul Pogba hobbled off with a possible left hamstring injury.

In Lisbon, Benfica let slip a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to CSKA Moscow, with substitute Timur Zhamaletdinov scoring the winning goal four minutes into his Champions League debut.

 

GROUP B

Two woefully uncompetitive games saw Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich post easy wins.

PSG’s expensively assembled forward line of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani ran riot against Celtic in a 5-0 win, scoring four between them. A Celtic own goal ensured a night to forget for the Scottish champion.

Bayern seemed rustier in its 3-0 win over Anderlecht, leading by just one goal at halftime despite Anderlecht having a man sent off in the 11th minute.

The red card allowed Robert Lewandowski to score from the penalty spot, before Bayern wasted a string of opportunities. Thiago Alcantara and Joshua Kimmich added to the scoreline in the second half.

GROUP C

Davide Zappacosta’s stunning long-distance goal from the right flank impressed the Stamford Bridge faithful, but Chelsea needed nothing special to thrash Azerbaijan’s Qarabag 6-0.

A poor Qarabag defense also conceded goals from Michy Batshuayi, Pedro Rodriguez, Cesar Azpilicueta and Tiemoue Bakayoko. There was also an own goal by Maksim Medvedev.

Atletico Madrid sees itself as a contender to win the Champions League, but poor finishing made it look well short of that standard in a 0-0 draw with Roma.

GROUP D

Lionel Messi started the new European season with yet another game-winning performance for Barcelona, while the Catalan club’s record signing Ousmane Dembele made his debut.

Still, Barcelona’s three-goal winning margin against a weakened opponent was slight revenge for its loss to Juventus in last year’s quarterfinals.

On Tuesday at the Camp Nou, Juventus was missing defender Giorgio Chiellini, forward Mario Mandzukic and midfielder Sami Khedira through injury, while Juan Cuadrado was suspended.

Sporting Lisbon won 3-2 at Greek side Olympiakos, taking the lead after just 69 seconds through forward Seydou Doumbia, on loan from Roma. AP

]]>
https://nepalireporter.com/2017/09/40425/feed 0